Attic inspection

[@lastresort1460]

had a roof replacement the home owner vented the dryer into the attic looked just like your video

[@CriticalThinker27]

This can happen when the bath fan is vented into the attic. I've seen it several times.

[@valleyhomeinspectors3839]

Me to but isn't this time.

[@justinstevenson2061]

Bad venting, those soffit vents suck. Or bad roof vents. Or no vapour barrier and giant gaps. I’m gutting this shit all day. Bathroom fans, plumbing&electrical, hatch not weatherstripped etc etc.

[@ncooty]

In my experience, the mold and damage is more concentrated when it's due to a bathroom or kitchen exhaust. This looked pretty uniformly bad.

[@justinstevenson2061]

@@ncooty ya absolutely, this is just bad venting. Especially with the white styro vents and then someone jammed the batts below too hard, pushes the styro into the roof sheathing and blocks intakes.

[@valleyhomeinspectors3839]

After thinking about the for a while. I believe that the insulation was missing and or attic access cover was missing and letting lots of warm are in the attic and then condensing and freezing in the winter. This house was a rental and is in the Poconos in Pennsylvania and gets pretty cold. In my experience when there is wide spread signs of moisture on only the under side of roof that's the problem. It didn't help that there was poor ventilation and a bathroom fan venting out a vented soffit.

[@jackfarrell4727]

I believe you are correct about the ridge vent, there is none. And you can tell it was insulated correctly and I saw the rafter mates but it was unknown to the viewer if there was soffit vents. Soffit vent plus ridge vent equal convection.

[@markbarlow1675]

There's a couple of issues. First, intake vents dont work without exhaust vents. Second, like someone else pointed out, the bathroom exhaust vent appears to run to the eave where its moist air gets drawn back in. Given the even condition its primarily the first issue.

[@jackfarrell4727]

You are correct sir.

[@drewnicest4319]

I'd check to see if the soffits are actually vented - solid soffit might be installed. You generally only need ridge OR gable vents - having both is actually less efficient at drawing air along the bottom of the roof. If the soffits are vented I'd be really surprised if a bathroom shower wasn't venting right into the attic.

[@2blkSSs]

So if I already had gable vents I shouldn’t get the ridge line vent also? Is that what you’re saying?

[@drewnicest4319]

@@2blkSSs I'm a master roofer glad you asked. Sometimes you can calculate the opening sizes, amount of top vent vs bottom vent. Ridge vents are way better than gable vents. But generally best option is to close off the gable vents if you're going to put a ridge vent - it forces the air up along the bottom of the roof. Did you wind up having vented soffit or did someone install solid soffit? Check to see too that the insulation isn't out into the soffit covering up the venting.

[@2blkSSs]

⁠@@drewnicest4319my house was built in 71’ and has gable vents, probably 6’x3’ with solid soffits. I was planning on installing soffit vents and then a ridge line because the heat in my attic (DFW) is insanely hot. Should I skip the ridge line or is it worth it to cover the gables and do the ridge line?

[@drewnicest4319]

@@2blkSSs it's worth it to switch to a ridge vent especially if you're taking the time to put soffit vents in. Maybe consider a solar attic vent as well if it gets super hot

[@2blkSSs]

@@drewnicest4319is there a rule for how many soffit vents I need?

[@nealneals6515]

If you check the furnace you will probably find a whole house humidifier they're great at providing that amount of moisture

[@valleyhomeinspectors3839]

This house was all electric.

[@troyvogt546]

You can't have both gable and ridge vents. It's one or the other. So the gable vents were adequate. Simply block off the gable. You may want to take a closer look at those soffit vents to make sure they're vented on the exterior (not solid). Also, make sure the bathroom exhaust ducts are terminating to the exterior and not the soffit or attic area.

[@guytech7310]

I wonder if there is any underlayment on the roof. Looks to me like the primary source of the moisture is coming from the roof side, since I am not seeing much rot\mold below the sheathing. The sheathing moisture issue appears to be consistent from the ridge all the way down to the soffits, which leads me to the think the issue is with the roofing, & not primarily a venting issue.

[@f.demascio1857]

Any time I see a builder using OSB, I shake my head & accept that we are not building quality. We have a pair of house flippers in our area that are facing several dozen lawsuits now. They have replaced roof on to-be-flipped homes, cutting off sewer vents below roof deck and running bathroom and dryer vent exhausts into attics. All of the rooves have had to be removed, decking, rooftop units and some joists (low slope roofs) all replaced at the homeowners expense.

[@johnjobber2219]

OSB is terrible. Better to spend a little more for plywood.

[@billycox475]

​@@johnjobber2219hate OSB. Is there even a legitimate use for it?

[@piotrzdziennicki7838]

OSB is fine as long as you know how and where to use it.

[@williamdecamp7343]

@@johnjobber2219plywood delaminates lol buckles lol

[@Pallidus_Rider]

Soffit baffles don't look firmly attached? Gable vent fan would help?

[@76TomD]

There appears to be a white vent hose up there either exhausting into the attic or the soffit which in both cases would just suck the humid air back into the attic

[@valleyhomeinspectors3839]

It was coming out of the bathroom fan and excited in a soffit vent. I definitely agree though. Venting through roof is preferred.

[@realexperiences8748]

Having gable vents is not unusual, that isn't the problem. I have the same: OSB sheathing + gable vents and the OSB looks like new after 50 years. Something went seriously wrong in this place..

[@eugenemorganakakeek8941]

that roof will last fine just fix the issue.

[@DavidSilvia-ms7tk]

Cold air and hot air will make the roof sweat like that

[@daleolson3506]

What was the white hose going to the soffit?

[@thatguy7085]

Moister is coming in from somewhere… that isn’t normal. Attic should be bone dry. Looks like a bathroom is venting moisture into the atic

[@johnevans1969]

OSB is crap, never use it unless its a disposable situation

[@philwell76]

No ridge vent! Put an air out vent and that will be balanced

[@groupergary5536]

Strange its just the plywood and not the rafters

[@bertroost1675]

Is this a home in a location with no snow? The trusses look weak.

[@mikebutts8211]

Those are rafters, not trusses.

[@darknes7800]

Roof Rule #1: The roof must "breath" Convection heat must move air in from the soffit vents and out via ridge vents......

[@Kajpaje]

Soft? I'd be worried about that black colour

[@iblis89]

that's the "organic growth" he is talking about ;)

[@Kajpaje]

@@iblis89 Didn't listen carefully enough. Organic growth sounds benign, where as black mould is diabolical ly toxic

[@valleyhomeinspectors3839]

@@Kajpaje that's exactly why I don't say black mold plus I really don't know exactly what it is without testing.

[@BMWSRR-yd6do]

Soffit vents with no ridge vent.... Genius way to create water damage to the sheathing, oh wait, is THAT what he's talking about...ahahahaha

[@noampitlik2332]

That's OSB for you. It is crap!

[@sonofculloden2]

OSB is crap for a roof - pony up the cash for plywood lol

[@parkerquigleypuff]

terrible venting in that attic.

[@AnthonyTolhurst-dw1nc]

Junk materials: junk houses.

[@Outlaw7256]

That's chip shit osb ! Absolutely garbage.

[@With2sULose]

No one cares. You want air baffles installed? Done. Will it do anything? Not my problem.

[@vikingblood0408]

Well presented!